Books are allowed on Vinted, and plenty of sellers list them - but it's a category where results vary wildly depending on what you're selling. I've shifted quite a few books through Vinted over the years, and the experience has taught me which ones are worth listing and which ones are better off going to the charity shop.
The short answer: yes, sell books on Vinted if you have the right kind. If you're hoping to shift a pile of random paperbacks you've finished reading, you'll probably be disappointed. But if you've got children's books, boxed sets, popular fiction, or textbooks, Vinted can absolutely be a reasonable place to sell them.
Where to List Books on Vinted
Books have their own category on Vinted. When you create a listing, you select "Entertainment" and then "Books" as your subcategory. Within that, you can further specify by genre - fiction, non-fiction, children's, educational, etc.
Don't make the mistake of listing books under clothing or accessories. Stick them in the right category and they'll reach the right buyers - people actively browsing for books rather than stumbling across them accidentally.
Which Books Sell Well on Vinted
Not all books are equal on Vinted. The platform skews toward buyers who are actively looking for something specific, so books with a clear identity and audience perform best.
Children's Books
This is probably the strongest book category on Vinted. Parents are constantly looking for affordable children's books, and Vinted's family-friendly audience is a natural fit. Picture books, early readers, activity books, and popular series like David Walliams, Tom Gates, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, or Roald Dahl sell steadily.
Sets of children's books sell particularly well - a bag of 10 mixed picture books can go for £8-£15 and they shift quickly.
Popular Fiction Series
Series books sell better than standalone novels. If you've got the first three books in a series, selling them together as a bundle often works better than listing them individually. Think: Harry Potter, His Dark Materials, Hunger Games, Twilight, Game of Thrones, Bridgerton.
Contemporary bestsellers and books that have been adapted into films or TV series also move well. If it was on the Richard & Judy book club list or became a Netflix series, there's usually demand.
Textbooks and Educational Books
Academic textbooks can be valuable on Vinted, especially if they're relatively recent editions. GCSE and A-Level revision guides (CGP, Letts, etc.) sell reliably because students and parents are always looking for cheaper alternatives to new copies. A CGP revision guide that retailed at £10.99 will sell for £3-£6 second-hand, and there's consistent demand.
University textbooks are worth listing if they're not too dated - check what the current edition is before pricing. If yours is two editions behind, the value drops significantly.
Cookbooks and Lifestyle Books
Popular cookbooks from well-known names (Ottolenghi, Nigella, Jamie Oliver, Nigel Slater) sell on Vinted. So do popular lifestyle books in good condition - Marie Kondo, self-help bestsellers, fitness and wellness books from recognisable authors.
Which Books Don't Sell Well on Vinted
Being honest here: most second-hand books are hard to shift anywhere, and Vinted is no exception.
Generic paperback fiction - if it's not a recognisable series or author, it's going to sit. The kind of beach reads and airport thrillers you pick up at a charity shop for 50p are genuinely not worth listing. The time investment of photographing, listing, and shipping doesn't make sense for a 50p sale.
Outdated non-fiction - books on technology, business, or current affairs that are more than five years old are usually very hard to sell. They feel dated and the information is often superseded.
Ex-library books - library stamps, worn covers, and date labels put buyers off. These are better donated back to a library or taken to a charity shop.
General reference books - encyclopaedias, old atlases, large format reference works. Almost no demand on Vinted (or anywhere online, honestly).
Realistic Prices for Books on Vinted
| Book Type | Typical Vinted Price |
|---|---|
| Popular children's picture books (each) | £1.50 - £4.00 |
| Children's books bundle (10 mixed) | £8.00 - £15.00 |
| Popular YA or adult fiction (good condition) | £2.00 - £5.00 |
| Harry Potter / boxed set (all 7) | £15.00 - £30.00 |
| GCSE revision guide | £3.00 - £6.00 |
| A-Level revision guide | £4.00 - £8.00 |
| Popular cookbook | £5.00 - £12.00 |
| University textbook (recent edition) | £8.00 - £25.00 |
| Standalone paperback bestseller | £1.50 - £3.00 |
Books are low-margin on Vinted, which is worth being clear about. You're not going to make fortunes. But if you're clearing out a bookshelf and want to recoup a few pounds, it's better than nothing - and much better than paying to take them to the tip.
Postage for Books on Vinted
Books can be surprisingly heavy, so postage is worth thinking about before you list.
A single paperback in a padded envelope will usually be under 500g, which is fine for Evri at £2.62 or similar.
A hardback, or a children's book in a box, can tip over 1kg - sometimes well over, especially for boxed sets. For a Harry Potter complete set, you're looking at 3-4kg, which means postage will be higher than the price you can realistically charge for the set alone.
Check the weight before you list. Use a kitchen scale. Then use the Vinted postage costs calculator to see what the buyer will pay for postage - this affects how competitive your total price feels.
For books specifically, I'd recommend:
- Single paperbacks: Evri or InPost, small parcel
- Hardbacks and heavier single books: Evri or InPost, weigh before listing
- Boxed sets: weigh first, consider Evri for the flat-rate advantage on heavier parcels
- Large bundles: Evri ParcelShop is the best option here - flat-rate pricing up to 15kg makes it cost-effective
How to Photograph Books for Vinted
Photography matters even for books. A few quick tips:
Show the cover clearly. Good lighting, flat surface, cover facing up. Buyers are judging condition from your photos, so a clean, well-lit shot of the front cover is the minimum.
Photograph the spine and back. Include a shot of the spine (especially for boxed sets lined up together) and the back cover.
Show any condition issues. If there's a crease on the cover, a mark on the pages, or any yellowing, photograph it. Buyers appreciate honesty and it avoids disputes.
For children's books, show inside pages. Parents want to know if there's writing or colouring inside.
Stack bundles neatly. If you're selling a bundle of books, arrange them in a tidy stack or fan them out attractively. It looks more like a proper product and less like a pile.
Vinted vs eBay for Selling Books
This is worth addressing directly. eBay has a larger audience for books and better category filtering. If you have a rare, collectible, or high-value book, eBay is probably the better platform - it reaches more specialist buyers.
For common second-hand books, eBay is also an option, but the fees eat into small-value sales quickly. World of Books and Music Magpie are worth considering if you have a lot of common books - you get less per book but it's effortless.
Vinted is a reasonable middle ground for books that have clear demand and are in good condition - especially children's books, popular series, and educational books. The zero seller fees mean even a £3 sale is all profit minus any packaging cost.
Is Selling Books on Vinted Worth It?
My honest take: it depends on the book.
For children's books and educational materials, yes - absolutely worth it. There's consistent demand, they're easy to photograph, and bundles can generate decent returns.
For standard adult fiction, it's marginal. If you've got popular titles in excellent condition, list them. If you've got a pile of generic paperbacks you read once, the charity shop is more efficient use of your time.
For textbooks and popular boxed sets, definitely worth it - the margin per item is better and buyer demand is real.
The key is to be selective. Spend your listing time on books that have a clear audience and can fetch a price that justifies the effort.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you sell books on Vinted UK? Yes. Books have their own category on Vinted and sell regularly - especially children's books, popular fiction series, revision guides, and cookbooks.
What books sell best on Vinted? Children's books, complete fiction series (Harry Potter, Hunger Games etc.), GCSE and A-Level revision guides, popular cookbooks, and recent university textbooks. Books with a clear, recognisable title or author consistently outperform generic reads.
What books are not worth selling on Vinted? Generic paperbacks, outdated non-fiction, ex-library books, and large reference books rarely sell well. The time investment in listing isn't worth it for a 50p item.
How much does it cost to post a book on Vinted? Postage is paid by the buyer. A single paperback under 500g will typically be Evri at £2.62. Heavier books or boxed sets cost more - weigh your items before listing and check the postage calculator so you price competitively.
Is Vinted or eBay better for selling books? eBay has a larger book-buying audience and better for rare or high-value books. Vinted is better for low-fee casual selling of popular second-hand books, especially children's titles. For bulk common books, World of Books or Music Magpie may be easier.
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